The Third Man - Follow As Satellites

The Third Man - Follow As SatellitesToby Leeming has shown his Detroit-tinged versatility in the past, but here it's taken to the extreme. Opening the record, three minute ditty "2116" offers more development than some producers can muster in double the time. Its main appeal stems from a sequence of electronic wind chimes. The chimes don't seem played so much as randomly brushed by passing gusts of air. Around this motif, Leeming layers in a heavy, tolling bassline and smudgy synth work. The whole thing has a jumbled, indistinct quality, almost Legowelt in aesthetic.

At its most basic, "Deep Sleep Operative" feels similar to Stephan Bodzin's remix of "Teddy Tausentod," by Dominik Eulberg. Both tracks share the same irregular beat programming, utilising four hasty kicks followed by a pause. Leeming's version is rather more apocalyptic, however. Most of the track is obscured by brooding pads, with small rays of hope allowed to peek through only towards the end. An overwrought, psychedelic hook whirls on top of this mire, sounding like some lost relic from Goa. "Runners" has the same frenzied energy so often found in Jeff Mills' work. Imagine a spider scuttling at high speed and you have some measure of the melodic elements. Again taking influence from Mills, the track has very few elements. Its success rests on cycling rapidly through different combinations, creating the illusion of many components. Last, the idyllic "Stepping Over" makes a sweet companion for "2116." Things are cleaner this time, with steady marimba-like hits fanning out alongside organ work and dreamy synth chords.

the "deep sleep operative" is my favourite and the comparaison in the review with bodzin remix is really ... bad. On the other hand, where I agree is with the parallel done with legowelt, this A2 track remembers me to the atmosphere of squadra blanco´s album (just speaking about the "end-of-the-world atmosphere)

The B1 is typically for the dancefloor (not that easy to mix out though) and is actually very different from all the other tracks I have from the third man. A good surprise in a way (on a blind test I wouldn´t have bet he is behind this one)

I have a question to the guys who have the record here. Do you have any kind of sound quality problem on the track "deep sleep operative"? or is it just my needle?

More on The Third Man

"Although The Third Man (Toby Leeming, 26) is a born and bred Londoner, his musical roots lie in Scotland where he lived for 4 years whilst studying at University. During this time he met dj’s, producers and promoters and not happy just watching others ply their trade he started to teach himself how to dj. On borrowing a friends laptop with a copy of Reason on he began to explore the capabilities of music programming and digital sounds.
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